Interventional Associates
Uterine Fibroids
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Interventional Associates has helped thousands of women treat their Uterine Fibroids with Uterine Artery Embolization, also known as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), a non-surgical, minimally invasive treat that causes the fibroid to shrink. We perform this treatment at all hospital locations. Please contact us or call our main office at 610-275-8346 to learn more about UFE and treatment options we provide for fibroids.

Uterine fibroids are very common non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding.

Interventional Associates can successfully treat Uterine Fibroids with Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment that blocks the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids causing them to shrink. It is a minimally-invasive procedure, which means it requires only a tiny nick in the skin, and is performed while the patient is conscious but sedated — drowsy and feeling no pain.

Typically, Uterine Fibroid Embolization usually requires a hospital stay of one night. Pain-killing medications and drugs that control swelling typically are prescribed following the procedure to treat cramping and pain. Many women resume light activities in a few days and the majority of women are able to return to normal activities within one week.

On average, 90% of UFE patients experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding. The procedure is about 85 % effective for pain.
UFE is effective for multiple fibroids as well as large fibroids.
Recurrence of treated fibroids is very rare after UAE. Short and mid-term data show UFE to be very effective with a very low rate of recurrence. Long-term (10 year) data is ongoing.
UFE is not new. It has been used successfully by interventional radiologists for more than 20 years to treat heavy bleeding after childbirth.
The UFE procedure is covered by most major insurance companies.

Fibroid tumors of the uterus are very common, but for most women, they either do not cause symptoms or cause only minor symptoms.  Fibroids can cause very heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting and pelvic pain, leading many women to seek treatment. Twenty to 40 percent of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of a significant size. African American women are at a higher risk for fibroids: as many as 50 percent have fibroids of a significant size.

Through a small nick in the groin (less than one-quarter of an inch), we insert a thin catheter into the femoral artery. Local anesthesia is used so the needle puncture is not painful. The catheter is guided through artery to the uterus with image-guidance (flouroscopy). By cutting off the blood supply to the fibroid via the catheter, we cause the tumor (or tumors) to shrink.

Most women with symptomatic fibroids are candidates for UFE and can obtain a consultation with Interventional Associates to determine whether UFE is a recommended treatment option.

For additional research on Uterine Fibroid Embolization, review the UFE Bibliography at sirweb.org.